• Record rainfall triggers flooding and evacuations in Wellington, New Zealand, one person missing

    Severe flooding and landslides struck Wellington, New Zealand, between April 20 and 21, 2026, after 77 mm (3 inches) of rain fell in less than 1 hour, prompting evacuations across multiple suburbs and leaving one person missing. A state of emergency remains in place as saturated ground and additional rainfall maintain the risk of further flooding and landslides.

  • Heavy mountain snow and strong winds forecast across Sierra Nevada, California

    Heavy snow and strong winds are forecast to impact the Sierra Nevada, California, from April 21 to April 22, 2026, as a Pacific storm system moves inland, bringing significant snowfall to elevations above 2 100 m (7 000 feet). Authorities warn that travel through major mountain passes could become very difficult to impossible due to snow-covered roads and reduced visibility.

  • State of emergency declared as Red Heavy Rain Warnings take effect in Wellington and Wairarapa, New Zealand

    Red Heavy Rain Warnings were issued for Wellington and Wairarapa on Monday, April 20, 2026, as flooding, swollen rivers, and landslides cut through infrastructure across the region, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency. Further heavy rain is forecast through Tuesday, April 21, with accumulations of up to 150 mm (5.9 inches) expected in the hardest-hit areas.

  • Tornadoes damage homes and infrastructure across multiple Midwest states on April 17

    A severe weather outbreak produced multiple tornadoes across the Midwestern United States on April 17, 2026, resulting in structural damage to residential buildings and infrastructure in several states. Preliminary National Weather Service data indicates more than 20 tornado reports, with impacts concentrated in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota and extending into Missouri, and at least one reported injury.

  • Tornado Watch issued for parts of Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin

    The Storm Prediction Center issued a Tornado Watch for a multi-state region of the Upper Midwest at 17:40 UTC (12:40 CDT) on April 17, 2026, citing a highly unstable environment ahead of an advancing cold front. Severe storms are expected to develop through the afternoon and evening, with tornadoes, large hail, and strong wind gusts as primary hazards.

  • Strong tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds expected from Plains to Great Lakes on April 17

    A multi-phase severe weather event is expected to impact the central United States on April 17, 2026, from northern Oklahoma to Wisconsin, with an Enhanced Risk of severe storms in place. Initial supercells may produce strong tornadoes and large hail before transitioning into an organized system capable of widespread damaging winds and localized flash flooding.

  • Severe hailstorm damages hundreds of homes in Bắc Hà, Lào Cai Province, Vietnam

    A severe hailstorm struck Bắc Hà Commune, Lào Cai Province, Vietnam, in the early hours of April 16, 2026, damaging 338 homes, injuring four people, and affecting 485.5 ha (1 200 acres) of crops. The storm, which lasted about 20–30 minutes, produced large hail and strong winds that caused structural damage and economic losses exceeding VND 30 billion (USD 1.1–1.2 million).

  • At least 12 killed as floods cut off communities in northwestern Haiti

    Heavy rainfall caused floods, river overflows, and landslides across northwestern Haiti from April 11 to 13, 2026, killing at least 12 people and flooding hundreds of homes. The hardest-hit municipalities were Saint-Louis-du-Nord, Port-de-Paix, and Anse-à-Foleur, where damaged roads and bridges left several communities cut off.

  • Strong tornadoes, giant hail threaten Iowa to southern Great Lakes as severe storms redevelop

    An Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms is in place from eastern Iowa into southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and the southern Great Lakes region on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, with large to giant hail, several tornadoes, some of which could be strong, and severe wind gusts possible from late afternoon through overnight. The threat follows an April 13 outbreak that produced at least 14 preliminary tornado reports across Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, increasing concern over repeated impacts in parts of the Midwest.